FACTSHEET Eastern FACTSHEET Eastern Osprey

Common Name: Eastern Osprey When preening, the Osprey is able to waterproof its dense plumage by using the Scientific Name: cristatus large oil-gland that is located at the base of Conservation Status: All Rottnest their tale. Island’s fauna is protected under the Authority Act 1987. Diet: Fish, molluscs, , insects, Habitat: Coastal habitats reptiles, , mammals. Body length: 50-65 cm In the Wild: Weight: 0.9-1.8 kg There are between two and six breeding Gestation period: 33-38 days pairs on Rottnest Island and at least six Ospreys all year round. Around springtime, Number of young: 1-3 (2-3 eggs) numbers increase to about 20 birds for Description: the breeding season. Osprey nests are made up of lots of sticks and debris which The Osprey is a large eagle shaped . It are woven together. has a white head and neck. A well-defined dark brown stripe runs through each eye One of the Rottnest nest stacks has been and down its neck. The osprey has a white examined. In this nest, blue plastic wrapping underside and white feathered legs. Its tape used on crayfish bait packets and back, wing surfaces and tail are brown. Its pieces of nylon rope pieces were used feet are off-white, its bill is black and its along with matted seagrass. Bits of beach- eyes are yellow. Ospreys have a greenish- washed wooden planks (one had ‘grenades’ yellow cere. The cere is the waxy, fleshy stencilled on it) were also used. Rottnest covering at base of upper beak. The female has at least 14 nest sites. The Osprey bird is slightly larger than the male. often returns to their same nest and are

1 wildlife added to each year and can become very Threats: large. Some are several metres across • Habitat loss, degradation, change due to and measure more than one metre from human activity mostly development bottom to lip. • Collisions with powerlines • Pollution – entanglement with nets Ospreys search for their prey by soaring or or line circling above a body of water and watching • Poisoning through eating prey containing below for fish. When they spot their prey, pesticides they hover above it and then dive down feet first. They snatch their food from near DID YOU KNOW? the surface or just under the water with The scientific name of the Osprey (Pandion their taloned (claw-like) feet. They can cristatus) comes from Greek mythology. submerge themselves if necessary up to 1m Pandion was a mythical king of Athens. under water. Ospreys have also occasionally The Osprey may also be known as a Fish taken flying birds and they can eat fish that Hawk or White-headed Osprey. weigh up to 2kg!

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